7 Books That Shine a Light on Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an exciting time in a woman’s life, but it can also be intimidating. Your body is going through a number of changes. For first-time moms, it can be comforting to know what to expect. Moms who’ve done this before may want a refresher on healthy eating and exercise habits and breastfeeding tips.

Research shows that more women are waiting until their 30s to start a family, which could put them at a higher risk of complications. No matter what age you are, you’ll want to know how to do whatever you can to keep yourself and your baby healthy during pregnancy.

Sometimes you want clinical details and other times you want someone to be real. These books provide a nice balance. They offer everything from general medical information to practical tips for each stage in your pregnancy.

Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth

Ina May Gaskin speaks about pregnancy and childbirth with over 30 years of experience as a midwife. Her book focuses on reassuring women of their body’s natural strength to give birth. If you’re looking for ways to have a more natural experience, Ina May provides tips to reduce pain and avoid drugs. She also addresses common concerns. May offers advice on how to work with doctors and how to create a comfortable birthing environment in any setting.

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy: From Doctors Who Are Parents, Too!

Mayo Clinic is well-known for its medical services and trustworthy clinical information and advice. This guide takes a more personal approach. It’s written from the perspective of doctors who are also parents. The book packs lots of information for new parents in one place. You can learn about your pregnancy week by week and see what’s safe and healthy to eat and do at each stage. There are also guides to help you weigh your options during those hard-to-make decisions about things, like when it’s time to go back to work and whether or not to circumcise.

Depending on your experience, pregnancy can fly by, seem like it’s taking forever, or both. “The Pregnancy Countdown Book” helps you keep track of it all with useful information for every day of your pregnancy. In addition to the practical stuff, the book offers anecdotes from doctors and mothers. You’ll likely get a laugh out of some of the candid daily one-liners, like “Expect your sex mojo to return!”

The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth

Genevieve Howland started as a YouTuber and blogger under the name Mama Natural. Now she’s bringing her natural pregnancy and parenting tips to print. Her book offers a week-by-week guide for women who are interested in experiencing pregnancy from a natural — rather than medical — perspective. There are tips for getting the right nutrients and easing bothersome symptoms with natural remedies. The book is also sprinkled with personal stories from women who’ve had positive experiences going the natural route.

The Whole 9 Months: A Week-By-Week Pregnancy Nutrition Guide with Recipes for a Healthy Start

Healthy eating is one of the most important parts of overall health. It’s even more important during pregnancy. It can be tricky to decide what’s best for you and the baby. “The Whole 9 Months” provides specific nutrition guidelines for the stages of your pregnancy with information on what nutrients your baby needs to develop and how to add them into your diet. There are also recipes for several different diets, like vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding offers a variety of nutritional and protective health benefits for your baby. But it can also come with challenges, from sore nipples to busy work schedules that don’t line up with feedings. La Leche League International is an organization that provides information and support to breastfeeding women. They want you to have all the tips and advice you need to successfully breastfeed. They’ve updated their comprehensive guide to include even more information and advice for the modern breastfeeding mom. You’ll find photos, personal stories, scientific evidence, and more all in one place.

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide

This guide covers pregnancy, childbirth, and life with your newborn. The book has been a popular seller and has gone through a few updates and redesigns, including new photos, graphics, and statistics. Now in its fourth edition, it focuses on research-based information on all stages of pregnancy and childbirth. It has an added emphasis on informed decision-making and more details about complimentary medicine.

We pick these items based on the quality of the products, and list the pros and cons of each to help you determine which will work best for you. We partner with some of the companies that sell these products, which means Healthline may receive a portion of the revenues when you buy something using the links above.